Andre Ward has won an Olympic Gold medal, professional world titles, and the Showtime Super Six Super middleweight tournament. For the unbeaten Ward the accomplishments keep growing. His latest milestone will come at the Copacabana in New York City this June 6, when he receives the 2011 Sugar Ray Robinson “Fighter of the Year” award from the Boxing Writers Association of America.

What makes this honor extra special for Ward is that his mentor and longtime trainer Virgil Hunter, will be honored that same evening as the “Trainer of the Year.”

“I want to thank God for giving me the strength to put in the work year after year to get to this point,” Ward, 28, of Oakland, Calif., said. “I also want to thankmy manager James Prince, my promoters Antonio Leonard and Dan Goossen,everyone who is a part of team Ward, as well as all my family, friends, and loyal fans who have been behind me all these years. This award is just as much for them as it is for me.

“Even in the midst of receiving this tremendous award, Team Ward is not going to let up. In 2012 and beyond we're going to push forward, and God- willing we can be considered for these awards every year. It's easy to get comfortable at a time like this, but I can assure everybody that I'm going to continue to put in the work to be the best that I can be. I'm going to stay humble, keep God first and, with that, the best is yet to come.”

Full information on the BWAA Awards Dinner can be had by going to bwaa.org